The Basics of Culture

World Studies

What is culture?

Culture is the way of life of a group of people.A set of learned beliefs, values, and behaviors.

You are NOT born with a culture, you learn it!

A person can be a part of many cultures or sub-cultures.

We are all a part of an American culture, but within the American culture there are many sub-cultures…what are some of them?• African American, Southern, Hip-Hop, Teenage

Harlan’s SubculturesHarlan Students (the main culture)

Athletes• Football, basketball, volleyball, baseball

Gangbangers• GDs, BDs, Moes

Music• Hip-hop, emo, rock!

PreppiesSerious Students

Elements (parts) of Culture

Belief Systems (religion)Language (Spanish, Ebonics)Social Structures (family structure, class systems)Institutions (education, marriage, government )Material Culture

Food (sushi)Art (graffiti)Music (mariachi)Clothing (Kente cloth)Tools (cell phone, hoe)Symbols (flag)

African American Culture

Origins of Culture

The place where an element of culture originates is called a culture hearth.

Where did hip-hop begin?Where did Judaism originate?Where did English originate?Where did gyros (yee-ros) come from?

How does culture spread?Cultural diffusion is when culture spreads from a hearth to new places.

Acculturation occurs when one culture influences another.

Assimilation occurs when a dominant culture completely replaces a less dominant culture.

Assimilation

Cultural Norms and Values

Norms

Rules that guide behaviorCan be written (formal) or unwritten (informal).Example: Laws, giving up your seat for an old person.

Values

What a society believes to be right, good, or desirable.Example: freedom, education, wealth

Global Diffusion of McDonalds

Cultural Diffusion

Mc D’s in India Mc D’s in China

Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism- the belief that your culture/ beliefs are better than someone else’s.It is important not to judge other cultures by our standards.Just because another culture eats something that we would not or listens to music that we don’t does not make them any more or less civilized.Try to find similarities between cultures and learn to appreciate the differences.

Results of Ethnocentricity